The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-08-13
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
SEEING SOUNDS.

ors. Cation mentions q case in which whole
language was developed for translating colors into
sound and back again, SO that the individual so
gifted could read words out of q wall pattern, or
paint pattern to order to represent a word. In
an interesting case lately brought before Paris
society the popularity is hereditary, and has been
transmitted from father to son and daughter. The
vowel and consonant sounds call up colors on
which the father and daughter are quite closely
agreed, while the numerals have distinct colors
which are entirely different to the two persons.
LUNAR PROBABILITIES.
The weather predictions of the early part of the
century were furnished by the almanacs according
to a table Constructed on philosophical princi-
PIES" This table simply showed the weather that
would follow "changes" of the moon at the differ
emit hours of the day. The absurdity of this rub
bish-in which there are unfortunately still many
belieyers-is evident when it is considered that
the moon is changing continually and steadily,
and not at uuarter-monthly intervals That there
is no connection whatever between the moons
phases and the weather has been shown in France
and in England by the most elaborate comparisons
of meteorological records, in which the Greenwich
observations for forty years carefully coated
with the moons phases for that period. The soli-
tary observable effect of the upon our atmos-
phere was believed by Sir John Herschel to be
tendency to the disappearance of clouds under the
full moon, and this he attributed to the heat radi-
ated from its surface. Theoretically the moon
should produce slight tides in our atmosphere
twice day, and Prof. Daniel has been able to
detect these tides by close barometrical observa-
ton. No further influence can be discovered and
it may be taken as a settled fact that the moon no
more affects our weather than the suns passage of
the equator produces "equinoctiap storms.
SILK FROM MAINE.
Though the moth family Of Bo@Sgeidas j jn %J.I
silk is still obtained from single species, the pro-
duct of the common silkworm Bombyc mort being
superior both in quality and in quantity to that
of any other yet tried. The fibre of Sami cicero
pia, species which feeds on the apple and, kin
bred plants throughout the United States and
Canada, has lately attracted attention, and seems
to be finer, softer and more abundant than that of
any other American sikworm. Prof. Carl Braun,
German entomologist now located at Bangor,
Maine, has received from a Lyons manufacturer
an order for five hundred cocoons of this moth,
and hopes to supply them this season. This in
vestigator is confident that the experiments to be
made with these cocoons will be successful, and
predicts that Maine will produce its own silk a
quarter of century hence.
LIGHT FOR ROYALTY.
The largest permanent electric light installation
ever placed in single building is probably that
which has been for some months in operation at
the Winter Palace of the Gear of Russia. The in
terror is illuminated by IL 900 incandescent lamps
and the exterior by ffty-six powerful arcs. The
dynamos, including reserve machines, number
twenty-six; and the eight engines are capable of
developing $500 horsepower. The apparatus is
of the Siemens Halske type.
MISCELLANEOUS
The differences in temperature to which the
human system accommodates itself without injury
to health astonishing. Sir John Herschel has
recorded temperature of 159 degrees F. at the
Cape of Good Hope, while Gorochow found in ST.
IBERIA cold of-81 degrees. With certain pre-
cautions these climatic extremes are borne in
safety, and through all the changes the body re-
tains its normal temperature of 9S.5 degrees.
Irregularity of the pulse is not an alarming
symptom, as many suppose. In lecture to the
Royal College of Physicians, London, DR.. W. FL.
Broadbent stated that it may occur in perfect
health and vigor up to extreme old age. Another
common error is the belief that the tension of
mans pulse may indicate the vigor of his body or
mind.
The red stars above the ninth magnitude have
been catalogued by Mr.. G.. F. Chambers after
sixteen years oflabor. The list gives I'll stars as
distinctly reddish or orange, of which not more
than dozen are really ruby or carmine.
The reptiles of Brazil are now reported by Prof.
E. D. Cope to number 81 species IL being newly
discovered, of which Is are batrachians, Is lizards,
and 20 snakes.
The total eclipse of the sun on August 10th will
be visible all over Russia from the Baltic to Eas-
tern Siberia. Astronomers from the United States,
England, Russia, Germany, Italy and France are
arranging to observe the phenomenon from at
least five different stations.
Monkeys are the only animals besides man that
have acquired the so-called morphia habit. One
monkey, like his MASTER fell into state of stupor
and depression when deprived of an opium smoke
for several days. To rabbits, however, morphia
has been administered in enormous doses for
khC obi r~Hk loslr
denly suppressed without evidence of discomfort.
The bone caves at Mentone, France, are most
remarkable tombs of the animals of an earlier age.
M. A. Gaudry reports that the six caverns once
inhabited by quarternary man have yielded no
less than $4,000 fragments of ancient animals,
belonging to Ill species of vertebrates and III
species of invertebrates.
Recent observations show that sore throats often
result from the breathing of coal-gas
The King Of the Dudes.
Long Branch Letter.
The one sight which disappoints every visitor
to the West End is Berry Wall. He is pointed out
to each newcomer.
ssWho did you say he was ?" and the observer
gazes at an ordinary looking fellow, with no dis
tinctive marks of the dandy about him.
'That is Berry Wall, the King of the Dudes.
LOU VIC I6hu dUOuJ ulIu, maven I you
"0h, yes but there's nothing in particular
about that fellow to exploit"
Isn't there? Wait and see. It is true that
Berry Wall hardly ever wears extravagantly
peculiar suit. Especially this summer is he no
more famboyant than the average of young fellows
at Long Branch. White flannel suits are common
there, and shirts of so many bright coors that
achance. row of them would make good rainbow.
tits in the number of his toilets and their scrupu-
l0us care, that Berry Wall earns his reputation.
Berry is not eyeglassed, he doesn't carry a
knobby stick, and his collars not exaggerated,
but he does change his clothes every two or three
hours. This morning he ate his breakfast in
sack coat and trousers of green, black and white
checks, a shirt of pink and straight brimmed
straw hat. About the middle of the forenoon he
came out in white flannel, with white canvas shoes
and q white cap. Just afternoon he bathed in a
gray tight suit. Next, he dressed for the races in
long frock coat and trowers Of light brown,
high hat to exactly match in color, and even the
leather strap from which his field glasses hung
across his shoulders was precisely the same hue.
On his return he went to dinner in a costume of
blue stripes, with coral shirt. These shirts are
his pride. He has dozens of them without repe-
tition. The collars and cuffs worn with them,
however, are invariably white. He wound up the
night in black frock coat, pearl trowsers, black
silk hat and white vest.
ah Mr.. Tilden's Investments.
The late Samuel j. Tilden seemed to think it
wise to place of his wealth in other countries
New York correspondent says:
1t was only day or two ago that the papers
seem to have found out that Mr.. Tilden had in
vestments in England. The sage had a quiet lit
tie sum amounting to over $500, 900 lying idle in
the Bank of England. And yet he was a bad
debtor, slow of payment and unwilling to settle.
1t was not SO many years ago that a Philadelphia
capitalist now living. who had been waiting for
adjustment of al account growing out of the sale
Of some iron and coal lands, sent his son in-law,
bright young Philadelphia lawyer, to see him
and ask for some accounting. The sage received
him and listened to the respectful inquiry of the
young man, who was somewhat awed by the sur
roundings and his manner. His voice was almost
inaudible though the tone was several degrees